Median sternotomy as a useful adjunct to anterior cervicothoracic spine decompression and fixation: A plea for its popularity among spine surgeons in West Africa

Abstract

Direct anterior approach to the cervicothoracic spine (C7-T4) for surgery can be challenging via a standard anterior cervical incision as a result of the important neurovascular structures crowding the cervicothoracic junction. Where indicated, median sternotomy provides improved access to this region of the spine for interventions. From the paucity of published literature in West Africa, this adjunct appears to be quite unpopular among spine surgeons in our sub-region. We report the presentation, preoperative evaluation, operative technique and outcome of treatment of a 66-year-old man with multiple myeloma affecting T1 with the same vertebral body collapse, who had full median sternotomy, anterior T1 decompression with C7-T2 Spinal fixation. Where indicated, an anterior trans-sternal approach to the cervicothoracic spine offers good exposure to T2/T3 vertebral body for decompression and instrumentation with minimal risks and morbidity. Spine surgeons in the West African subregion should utilize this important collaboration with thoracic surgeons to achieve satisfactory access to spine surgery within the thoracic cavity.